Are Teaching Solutions study guides any good?

[perrik]

I don't know anything about that company, but the website sets off HUGE alarms in my gut. I never trust anyone trying to sell me a system by waving big money amounts in my face repeatedly.

The CLEP page states multiple times that messing up on CLEP exams costs you $50000, under the odd assumption that someone with a newly-minted bachelor's degree is going to automatically be offered $50000 more in annual salary than someone without the degree. The US Census states that in 2006 the difference in average annual salary between a worker with a HS degree and one with a bachelor's is around $25000; that's everyone, at all experience levels and in all fields, not just new hires.

According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, the average starting salary for new college grads in 2008 was $49,224. So apparently new high school grads are being offered about $0.37 an hour? That starting salary figure is the average for all majors, including the ones that command big bucks like engineering, so it might be fairer to compare the HS grads to liberal arts majors. Liberal arts majors are averaging a 2008 starting salary of $36,715. (hmm, at this point the HS grads are being billed $13,285 a year to go to their jobs)

Questionable claims aside, the website also warns us that they're only accepting a limited number of students! And memberships/study guides for the most popular exams are almost sold out, so act now!

This company may be entirely legitimate, and the materials very helpful. They claim a pass rate of 87%, which is impressive if true. Frankly, I would run away screaming, but that's just my opinion.